You only get one life, so make your dreams come true.
Jay Strongwater, a man who is living his dream, has created a niche in home décor and has overtaken the luxury market. He built an empire by combining his luxurious style with his sophisticated taste into frames, lamps, mirrors and jewelry. He now works in a studio where the entire ninth floor is dedicated to his vision. I was thrilled when Jay accepted my request to meet him and gazed in awe as I walked through his showroom at the magnificent craftsmanship and intricate touches of detail. Words such as “exquisite” and “elaborate” are understatements of defining his home accessory and jewelry designs, and when I asked which design was his favorite, he replied, “They’re all my babies.” With that so neatly put, I realized the reward of attaining such great success in running your own enterprise. I was surrounded by this man’s vision, of which he had complete control.
Jay Strongwater went to the Rhode Island School of Design and dropped out as a sophomore due to unexpected success. His career began when he created a necklace for his mother, and it created such a sensation that he decided to sell it to major department stores. First, Jay was rejected by Bloomingdale’s, and though he was discouraged, he decided to stop by Bergdorf Goodman to make an appointment with the buyers. Bergdorf soon placed an order for a couple dozen pieces and Jay left with a few hundred dollars in his pocket. Most unexpectedly, they called him the following semester asking when his spring line would be ready. Since then the sales kept growing bigger and bigger, elevating his success to the point where he would design jewelry for Oscar de la Renta’s runway shows.
“It’s all about creating a steady flow,” Jay remarked on building a luxury brand. Once you start moving forward and gaining momentum, you can work on gaining steady growth. As your demand rises, you must evolve your business to manage the success. Another great point he made is that you might get the opportunity to have an investor. Make sure the relationship is on “the right wavelength,” because hostile takeovers occur all the time, and the last thing you need or want is to lose control of what you have created.
Looking back on his success, Jay Strongwater is very proud of how he has grown, but it is the different directions of development he finds most interesting. Here are some words of wisdom from successful designers like Jay: create your own niche and be the absolute best. Keep the vision of your success in mind, and you can do anything.
By Jeffrey B. Turnbull
Comments